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(11)

EP 1 409 750 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 21.04.2004 Bulletin 2004/17 (21) Application number: 02701930.6 (22) Date of filing: 04.01.2002

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: C21C 5/46, B22D 43/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US2002/000553 (87) International publication number: WO 2002/057500 (25.07.2002 Gazette 2002/30)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 16.01.2001 US 761465 (71) Applicant: Tetron, Inc. Farmington Hills, MI 48331-2952 (US)	(72) Inventors: KOFFRON, Robert, J. Farmington Hills, MI 48331-2952 (US) JACOBS, Ross, A. Snowmass, CO 81654 (US) (74) Representative: Giles, Ashley Simon et al Haseltine Lake & Co.,Imperial House,15-19 Kingsway London WC2B 6UD London WC2B 6UD (GB)